Ninja DZ550 vs DZ401 Comparison 2025: Which DualZone Air Fryer Is Right for You?
When it comes to dual-basket air fryers, Ninja remains a top contender in the kitchen appliance market. The Ninja DZ550 and Ninja DZ401 are two popular models from the brand’s DualZone lineup, each offering advanced features for home cooks seeking efficiency and versatility.
While both units allow you to cook two different foods at once with separate temperature and time settings, they differ in technology, design, and user experience.
In this detailed comparison, we’ll break down the key differences between the DZ550 and DZ401 to help you determine which model best suits your cooking style and household needs.
Ninja DZ550 vs DZ401: Feature-by-Feature Comparison Table
| Features | Ninja DZ550 | Ninja DZ401 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.9x17.1x12.8 Inches | 17.1x13.9x12.8 Inches |
| Material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Basket Material | Nonstick coated Aluminum | Nonstick coated Aluminum |
| Weight | 19.8 lbs | 19.8 lbs |
| Cooking Functions | Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat & Dehydrate | Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat & Dehydrate |
| Cooking Capacity | 10 Quarts | 10 Quarts |
| Temperature | 105°F to 450°F | 105°F to 450°F |
| Other features | Dual zone cooking, Smart finish, Match Cook & IQ Boost | Dual zone cooking, Smart finish, Match Cook & IQ Boost |
| Control Panel | Touch, Buttons | Digital Touch Screen, Dial |
| Smart Foodi Thermometer | Yes | No |
| Included Accessories | 2x 5-Quart Baskets, 2 Nonstick Crisper Plates, 15 Recipes, Additional Meal Options & Cooking Charts | 2x 5-Quart Baskets, 2 Nonstick Crisper Plates, 15 Recipes, Additional Meal Options & Cooking Charts |
| Wattage | 1690W | 1690W |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited Warranty | 1 Year Limited Warranty |
| User Ratings | 4.8/5 Star | 4.8/5 Star |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Difference Between Ninja DZ550 vs DZ401
Ninja DZ550 is newer addition to dual zone air fryers from Ninja and it has received rave reviews so far while Ninja DZ401 is a time-tested dual zone air fryer. Ninja DZ550 comes with an additional feature that makes it different and better than Ninja DZ401 dual zone air fryer. Here, we will discuss all the differences between Ninja DZ550 vs DZ401 one by one.
Construction & Design
The Ninja Air Fryer are made with high quality materials and a thoughtful design. Both models have a sturdy plastic construction while IQ boost feature ensures even heat distribution, and the removable parts are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. Plus, the digital touch screen makes it easy to set cooking times and temperatures.
In terms of dimensions and weight, Ninja DZ550 and DZ401 aren’t the most compact and lightweight air fryers on the market however, given it has two baskets and huge cooking capacity, the weight and dimensions are justified.
- 2 FOODS, 2 WAYS, AT THE SAME TIME: Eliminating back-to-back cooking like a traditional single-basket air fryer with 2 independent XL air fryer baskets.
- SMART COOK SYSTEM: Achieve the perfect doneness, from rare to well-done, at the touch of a button with the integrated Foodi Smart Thermometer—no guesswork required.
Ninja DZ550 dualzone air fryer measures 13.9x17x12.8 inches which is identical to dimensions of Ninja DZ401 dualzone air fryer. Both Ninja DZ550 and DZ401 air fryers weigh about 20 pounds which is not very portable so a dedicated spot for the cooking appliance is necessary to have in order to avoid moving it around from counter to storage and vice versa. Overall, both ninja dualzone air fryers will look stunning no matter what kitchen theme you have.
Control Panel
The first visible difference that you might notice is the control panel. Control panels are well designed, perfectly laid out and the buttons are clearly labeled for easy navigation. Ninja DZ401 dualzone air fryer has a dial along with buttons while Ninja DZ550 doesn’t have a dial.
Smart Foodi Thermometer
Moving on, Ninja DZ550 comes with a smart Foodi thermometer for precision cooking especially when its protein that you are cooking, you need to have perfect doneness and tenderness. The smart thermometer lets you monitor perfect temperature at any given time to have the exact doneness that you like. Ninja DZ401 dualzone air fryer however doesn’t have this feature. Ninja DZ550 is the winner here!
- The XL air fryer with 2 independent baskets that lets you cook 2 foods, 2 ways, at the same time, eliminating back-to-back cooking like a traditional single-basket air fryer.
- DualZone Technology allows you to choose between the Smart Finish feature, which unlocks cooking 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time, and the Match Cook feature, which easily copies settings across zones for full 10-qt. capacity meals.
Versatility
Every Ninja Air fryer is a versatile and multifunctional kitchen appliance that can be used for a variety of cooking tasks, including air frying, roasting, grilling, baking, and more. With its large size and powerful heating element, the Ninja Air fryer can handle even the largest cooking jobs with ease.
Ninja DZ550 and DZ401 come with 5 cooking functions to cater to all your cooking preferences. Here is what you can do with DZ550 or DZ401 dualzone air fryer:
- Air Fry
- Air Broil
- Roast
- Bake
- Reheat
- Dehydrate
Cooking Capacity
Both Ninja DZ550 and DZ401 dualzone air fryers feature are large capacity air fryers mostly suitable for large families. Ninja DZ550 dualzone air fryer comes with two baskets (5 Quart each) with a total of 10 Quart cooking capacity.
Both models are capable of cooking 2×6 pound whole chickens, 8-pound chicken wings, tons of French fries and more. The capacity is more than enough for large families especially those who love fried food but want to cut down on oil and all those fats.
Match Cook & Smart Finish
Ninja DZ550 and DZ401 dualzone air fryers have additional amazing features such as Match cook, smart finish and IQ Boost. Let’s begin with what match cook is. Match cook feature copies the settings across zones so you don’t have to add settings for both zones separately. When you select smart finish, the air fryer cooks two foods two way and finished at the same time. Amazing Right!
Dualzone cooking means you can cook two different dishes or same dish in both zones while IQ boost makes sure uniform and perfect heat distribution across baskets without creating hot spots. It makes sure everything cooks perfectly and evenly and you do not end up half baked, undercooked, or overcooked ingredients in your plate.
Best Deals – Ninja DZ401 Foodi 10 Quart DualZone Smart Air Fryer
- 2 FOODS, 2 WAYS, AT THE SAME TIME: Eliminating back-to-back cooking like a traditional single-basket air fryer with 2 independent XL air fryer baskets.
- SMART COOK SYSTEM: Achieve the perfect doneness, from rare to well-done, at the touch of a button with the integrated Foodi Smart Thermometer—no guesswork required.
Pros 
- Smart cooking technology
- Foodi smart thermometer
- 10 Quart cooking capacity
- Match cook, smart finish, IQ Boost features
- Dishwasher safe removable parts
- Intuitive control panel
Cons 
- Large footprint
- Plastic smell reported
Best Deals – Ninja DZ550 Foodi 10 Quart DualZone Air Fryer
- The XL air fryer with 2 independent baskets that lets you cook 2 foods, 2 ways, at the same time, eliminating back-to-back cooking like a traditional single-basket air fryer.
- DualZone Technology allows you to choose between the Smart Finish feature, which unlocks cooking 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time, and the Match Cook feature, which easily copies settings across zones for full 10-qt. capacity meals.
Pros
- Huge 10 Quarts cooking capacity
- Amazing features such as Smart finish & match cook
- Dishwasher safe accessories
- Nonstick coated baskets & crisper plates
- Easy to follow controls
Cons
- No smart thermometer
- Large footprint
- Not suitable for small spaces
Verdict: Ninja Foodi DZ550 vs DZ401 DualZone Air Fryer
Ninja DualZone air fryers are amazing for many reasons, you can cook two recipes at the same time. You can cook a lot of food in a snap if you have unexpected guests, and you can cook large batches for family gatherings and backyard parties.
Features like Match cook, smart finish, IQ boost, and dualzone cooking makes you want to experience a whole new level of cooking. Ninja DZ550 dualzone comes with a smart thermometer for precision cooking while DZ401 doesn’t share this feature.
After going through all the details, differences, commonalities, pros and cons, it would have been easy for you to pick the one you deem fit for your household. We would recommend Ninja DZ550 smart dualzone air fryer for it includes a smart thermometer. However, Ninja DZ401 dualzone air fryer checks all the right boxes and deliver impeccable cooking performance should you decide to choose that.
